Demolition charges

ABSTRACT

A demolition charge suitable for the destruction of telecommunication equipment includes a housing containing an alumino-thermic mixture. The housing has a plurality of ignition transmission openings and slidingly engageable coupling means for attaching other demolition devices such as a fuse or additional charges. The charge has foil coverings across the openings and may include internal interconnectors extending between selected openings. A charge may be coupled to a fuse or to other charges such that ignition is transmitted to and from adjacent charges via the ignition transmission openings.

United States Patent Schiessl Aug. 19, 1975 15 DEMOLITION CHARGES3.311054 3/1967 Foster et a1. 102/6 3,338,452 8/1967 Oakley e11 a1 .1220/234 [75] lnvemo sch'essh Bud Relchenhau 3,611,931 10 1971 Bessey102/72 Germany 1 [731 Assignee: Firma Buck K. G., Bad Uberkinger,Primary Examiner5amuel Feinberg Germany Assistant Iitaminer-Harold TudorFiled: Dec. 14, 1973 Artur/ 1e1 Agent, or F1rn1-Burns, Doane, Swecker'&

Mathis 1211 Appl. No.: 424,742

57 ABSTRACT [301 Foreign Application Priority Data A demolition chargesuitable for the destruction of Dec. 14. 1972 Germany 22 122telecommunication equipment includes a housing containing analumino-thermic mixture. The housing has a [521 US. Cl. 102/90; 102/6;102/66 plurality of ignition transmission openings and slid- [51] Int.Cl. F42b 11/24; F421) 13/14 ingly engageable coupling means forattaching other 1 1 Field Of Search 102/90, 8 demolition devices such asa fuse or additional charges. The charge has foil coverings across theopenings and may include internal interconnectors ex- [56] ReferencesCited tending between selected openings. A charge may be UNITED STATESPATENTS coupled to a fuse or to other charges such that ignition 224L4862/1880 Spruce 220/234 istransmittedto and from adjacent charges via theig- 1.771.455 7/1930 Wiley H 102/6 transmlsslon p 3,194 426 7/1965Brown, Jr. ZED/23.4 1291,0511 12/1966 Ahlert et a1 102 90 6 3 F'guresPATENTED AUG] 91975 3, 899,977

sum 1 UP 2 III'I PATENTEU M181 9 3, 899 977 FIGS DEMOLITION CHARGESBACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to ademolition charge and demolition charge assembly in order to destroymachines and equipment, especially telecommunication equipment.

The known demolition charges generally consist of an aluminothermicmixture which is housed in a cubeshaped housing. The destructive effectof these charges rests on the development of a very hot, molten reactionproduct, which flows over equipment and apparatus that is to bedestroyed and in doing so, destroys them. The priming of these knowndemolition charges is accomplished by a fuse or primer connected firmlywith the housing for the charge.

The known demolition charges have certain disadvantages. Thus it canhappen that the fuse, connected firmly with the housing, can be reachedonly with difficulty after insertion of the charge in the apparatus thatis to be destroyed (for example, in a level or deck of shelf-liketelecommunication equipment). Furthermore, for the destruction of fairlylarge objects it will be necessary in most cases to place severaldemolition charges side by side or one above the other, wherebydifficulties will then develop understandably during the necessaryindividual priming of the several demolition charges.

It is a general object of the invention to eliminate or minimize suchdisadvantages.

It is the primary object of the invention, therefore, to improve theknown demolition charges so that the primer, in the case of theinstalled demolition charge, will be easily accessible at all times.

It is another object of the invention, when several demolition chargesmust be attached side by side or on top of one another, to facilitatethe ignition of all demolition charges by a single fuse igniter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED FORMS OF THE INVENTION According to theinvention, at least some of these objects are accomplished byperforating at least two lateral surfaces of the housing wall of eachdemolition charge with an ignition transmission window or opening.Connecting extensions are preferably provided on the lateral surfaceshaving the ignition transmission windows. for the purpose of receiving acover for the ignition transmission window. The connecting extensionsalso couple the ignition transmission window of one charge in alignmentwith the associated ignition transmission window of a fuse igniter orthe window of a corresponding connecting extension of an additionaldemolition charge. Effectively, one should proceed in this case in sucha way, that the housing is of a generally flat construction and has asquare base surface, that ignition transmission windows he provided(preferably centrally) on all four narrow sides, and that the connectingextensions are male and female extensions. preferably having mutuallyconnective groove and tongue. dovetail connections.

In case of the demolition charges according to the invention, therefore.the fuse is not necessarily rigidly connected with the housing, but maybe attached after installation of the demolition charge into theinstallation that is to be destroyed. This attachment may be made at theside of the housing most favorable for its handling, by means of aconnection extension or a slide and fastening connection, whereby itthen will be capable of igniting the alumino-thermic mixture in thehous-,

ing by way of the associated ignition transmission window. Furthermore,several demolition charges according to the invention can be connectedtogether, whereby the ignition transmission windows are in alignmentwith one another, so that it will be sufficient to attach a fuse igniteronly to a single demolition charge, while the other demolition chargesare ignited by ignition transmission through the aligned ignitiontransmission windows. At those sides of the housing on which neither afuse igniter nor another demolition charge has been connected a coveringis attached, which provides a protective covering for the ignitiontransmission window.

DRAWING The drawing shows embodiments of the invention by way ofexample.

FIG. 1 shows a partial section through adjacent housing walls of twodemolition charges,

FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. I of a modified form of theinvention, and

FIG. 3 is a view, partially broken away, of a fuse connected to ademolition charge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED FORMS On the part of FIG. I, thenumber 10 designates a lateral wall of the housing of a first demolitioncharge and II a lateral wall of the housing of a second demolitioncharge. The two demolition charges, which have only partly been drawn,each have a flat cube shaped housing with a square base surface, in eachof which housing an alumino thermic mixture is housed. The housing wall10 has a dovetailed tongue 12, which engages with a dovetailed groove 13of the housing wall 11. In the dovetail tongue 12 there is a perforation14, defining an ignition transmission opening or window. In thedovetailed groove 13 there is a perforation 15 likewise defining anignition transmission window. The ignition transmission window 14 iscovered up by a thin foil 16, and the ignition transmission window 15,by a thin foil 17. A small recess 18 in the lateral wall I0 cooperateswith a small bulge 19 in the lateral wall 11, forming a stay orrestraining connection.

From the drawing it becomes clear that by telescoping the dovetailedsliding and fastening connection l2, l3 and by engaging the restrainingmeans 18, 19 the two lateral walls 10 and 11, and thus the twodemolition charges, can be connected in a simple manner with one anotherin such a way that the two ignition transmission windows 14 and 15 arein alignment. If now for example the first demolition charge, housed bythe wall 10, is ignited, then the hot melt developed in the firstignition charge will melt the foils l6 and 17 and penetrate the housingof the second charge through the wall II. In such fashion the melt willignite this second demolition charge. Thus a fuse merely needs to beattached to the first demolition charge, with the second demolitionbeing ignited by ignition transmission from the first charge.

As mentioned, the demolition chrages preferably consist of a flat. cubeshaped housing with a square base surface, whereby all four narrow sidesare developed like the sides or II of FIG. I. In other words, two narrowsides each, preferably opposite ones, are provided with a dovetailedtongue, the other two narrow sides with a dovetailed groove 13. Alldemolition charges can thus have a completely identical housing and areassembled each time so that a narrow side with a dovetailed tongue meetsa narrow side with a dovetailed groove.

If, on the other hand, the four narrow sides of a demolition chargeshould desirably be the same, then one should make a design according tothe modification of FIG. 2, whereby both lateral walls and 21 ofadjacent demolition charges are provided with a dovetailed groove 22 or23 respectively. In order to produce a connection, an ignitiontransmission element is put into the hollow space formed by the twogrooves 22 and 23, which element, in section, has the shape of adovetailed double tongue. The element 30 then serves both as connectorand as an ignition transmitter. The element 30 may be formed of anysuitable material capable of coupling the charges together andtransmitting ignition from one charge to the other.

A fuse igniter 31 can be attached to the narrow side 10 of one of thedemolition charges, such as a side 10' which is opposite the side 10 ofthe first demolition charge (FIG. 3). The fuse 31 can be an electricfuse or a manual friction igniter, and can have an extension 32corresponding to the connecting extension 12' of the narrow side of thecharge housing. Thus, a window 34 of the fuse communicates with theinterior of the first charge through the window 14' (FIG. 3) and thefirst charge communicates with the second charge by means of the windows14, 15.

Covers are attached to the free, narrow sides of the charge devices,therefore to such narrow sides which neither carry a fuse nor areconnected with the narrow side of another demolition charge. Such coversserve to protect the ignition transmission windows and may, for example,have the shape of contact strips.

Naturally the invention can be modified in numerous ways. Thus forexample, ignition transmission windows can also be provided on the floorof the housing and on the ceiling of the housing, in order thus to makepossible a stacking up of several demolition charges.

Furthermore it is possible as well as advantageous, to attach one ormore interconnectors (FIG. 3) within the housing of a charge behind theignition transmission windows, which internal interconnectors extendeffectively from one to the opposite ignition transmission window andbring about or facilitate the ignition of the alumino thermic mixture.

Also it is not absolutely necessary for the ignition transmissionwindows to be arranged each time centrally with respect to the lateralwalls of the housing. Rather, they can indeed also be displaced, but itis essential that the arrangement is such that. upon assembly ofdemolition charges, the corresponding ignition transmission windows arein alignment.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION A demolition chargeaccording to the invention is highly versatile. In the event that acharge assembly, comprising a plurality of adjacently disposed charges,is required for the destruction ofa given piece of equipment, thecharges may be conveniently coupled together with their ignitiontransmission openings aligned. In this fashion, the ignition of a singlecharge may be transmitted to all of the other charges through thealigned openings. This reduces the required number of fuses as well asthe chances of malfunctions of certain fuses.

The arrangement of the slidably engageable dove tailed grooves andtongues facilitates assemblage and enables the charges to be constructedidentically. The modification of FIG. 2, moreover, enables all sides ofthe charge to be constructed identically.

The use of an easily detachable sliding connection for the fuse (FIG. 3)provides access to the fuse even when it is located remotely within theequipment. Also, due to the plurality of ignition transmission openingsin the charge, the fuse or other, associated charges may be connected inmore conveniently accessible positions.

The use of covers for the openings provides protection for the openingswhen not being used.

The transmission of ignition through the charge is facilitated by theuse of interconnectors extending from one opening to another.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a preferredembodiment thereof. it will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat additions, modifications, substitutions and deletions notspecifically described may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A demolition charge assembly for being mounted on equipment such asmachines and telecommunication mechanism and destroying such equipment,said charge assembly comprising:

a plurality of interconnected charges, each charge comprising acube-shaped housing containing an alumino-thermic mixture which, whenactivated, is operable to produce a molten reaction product fordestroying said equipment, at least four of the sides of said housingeach including:

one of a dovetail tongue portion and dovetail groove portion coupled toa mating one of a dovetail tongue portion and dovetail groove portion ofan adjoining side of an adjacently disposed charge to establish adovetail connection therebetween, and

an ignition-transmission opening extending through the dovetailconnection portion of each associated housing side such that theignition-transmission openings of adjoining sides of adjacentlyconnectedly charges are mutually aligned;

a dovetail connection portion of a selected charge of said chargeassembly being arranged to receive a mating dovetail connection portionof a fuse such that an ignition-transmission opening of the fuse ismutually aligned with an ignitiontransmission opening of said selectedcharge so that ignition of said fuse is transmitted to said selectedcharge and to adjacent charges through said mutually alignedignition-transmission openings;

each charge being arranged to connectably receive a plurality of chargesto form charge assemblies of diverse sizes and shapes to destroyequipment of diverse sizes and shapes.

2. Apparatus according to claim I wherein each charge has dovetailgrooves on two of said four sides and dovetail tongues on the two othersides.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including covering foils disposedacross said ignition transmission openings.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 including interconnector means passingthrough the alumino-thermic mixture of each charge and interconnectingat least two of the ignition transmission openings.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fuse comprises one of anelectric fuse and a manual friction fuse.

6. A demolition charge assembly for being mounted on equipment such asmachines and telecommunication mechanism and destroying such equipment,said charge assembly comprising:

a plurality of interconnected charges, each charge comprising acube-shaped housing containing an alumino-thermic mixture which, whenactivated, is operable to produce a molten reaction product fordestroying said equipment, at least four of the sides of said housingeach including:

a dovetail groove portion aligned with a mating one of a dovetail grooveportion of an adjoining side of an adjacently disposed charge to definea recess therebetween,

an ignition-transmitting dovetail double tongue disanignition-transmission posed in said recess to define a dovetailconnection between said charges to define a dovetail connectiontherebetween, and

opening extending through each dovetail groove of each associatedhousing side such that the ignition-transmission openings of adjoiningsides of adjacently connectedly charges are mutually aligned;

dovetail groove of a selected charge of said charge assembly beingarranged to be aligned with a mating dovetail groove of a fuse andreceive a dovetail double tongue within a recess defined thereby suchthat an ignition-transmission opening of the fuse is mutually alignedwith an ignition-transmission opening of said selected charge so thatignition of said fuse is transmitted to said selected charge and toadjacent charges through said mutually aligned ignitiontransmissionopenings;

each charge being arranged to be connected to a plurality of charges toform charge assemblies of diverse sizes and shapes to destroy equipmentof diverse sizes and shapes.

1. A demolition charge assembly for being mounted on equipment such asmachines and telecommunication mechanism and destroying such equipment,said charge assembly comprising: a plurality of interconnected charges,each charge comprising a cube-shaped housing containing analumino-thermic mixture which, when activated, is operable to produce amolten reaction product for destroying said equipment, at least four ofthe sides of said housing each including: one of a dovetail tongueportion and dovetail groove portion coupled to a mating one of adovetail tongue portion and dovetail groove portion of an adjoining sideof an adjacently disposed charge to establish a dovetail connectiontherebetween, and an ignition-transmission opening extending through thedovetail connection portion of each associated housing side such thatthe ignition-transmission openings of adjoining sides of adjacentlyconnectedly charges are mutually aligned; a dovetail connection portionof a selected charge of said charge assembly being arranged to receive amating dovetail connection portion of a fuse such that anignitiontransmission opening of the fuse is mutually aligned with anignition-transmission opening of said selected charge so that ignitionof said fuse is transmitted to said selected charge and to adjacentcharges through said mutually aligned ignition-transmission openings;each charge being arranged to connectably receive a plurality of chargesto form charge assemblies of diverse sizes and shapes to destroyequipment of diverse sizes and shapes.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1wherein each charge has dovetail grooves on two of said four sides anddovetail tongues on the two other sides.
 3. Apparatus according to claim1 including covering foils disposed across said ignition transmissionopenings.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 including interconnectormeans passing through the alumino-thermic mixture of each charge andinterconnecting at least two of the ignition transmission openings. 5.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fuse comprises one of anelectric fuse and a manual friction fuse.
 6. A demolition chargeassembly for being mounted on equipment such as machines andtelecommunication mechanism and destroying such equipment, said chargeassembly comprising: a plurality of interconnected charges, each chargecomprising a cube-shaped housing containing an alumino-thermic mixturewhich, when activated, is operable to produce a molten reaction productfor destroying said equipment, at least four of the sides of saidhousing each including: a dovetail groove portion aligned with a matingone of a dovetail groove portion of an adjoining side of an adjacentlydisposed charge to define a recess therebetween, anignition-transmitting dovetail double tongue disposed in said recess todefine a dovetail connection between said charges to define a dovetailconnection therebetween, and an ignition-transmission opening extendingthrough each dovetail groove of each associated housing side such thatthe ignition-transmission openings of adjoining sides of adjacentlyconnectedly charges are mutually aligned; a dovetail groove of aselected charge of said charge assembly being arranged to be alignedwith a mating dovetail groove of a fuse and receive a dovetail doubletongue within a recess defined thereby such that anignition-transmission opening of the fuse is mutually aligned with aniGnition-transmission opening of said selected charge so that ignitionof said fuse is transmitted to said selected charge and to adjacentcharges through said mutually aligned ignition-transmission openings;each charge being arranged to be connected to a plurality of charges toform charge assemblies of diverse sizes and shapes to destroy equipmentof diverse sizes and shapes.